Apparatus for measuring the thrust or pull on shafts.



P. WAGNER.

APPARATUS PoR MEASUBING THB THRUST 0R PULL 0N sHAFTs.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 13, 1911.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

PAUL WAGNER, 0F CHARLOTTENBURG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR MEASURING- THE THRUS-T-OR PULL 0N SHAFTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented aune 3, 1913.

' Application ined :rune 1a, 1911. serial No. 632,916.

T okaZZ 'whom t may concern:

Bc it known that I, PAUL WAGNER, a subject of the King of Prussia, residing at Charlottenburg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring the Thrust or Pull on Shafts, of which the v:following is a specificabeing madevwith alined portions that are in slidingl engagement with each other and a chamber being provided between the ends of said portions into which fluid under pressure can be forced.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating some of the embodiments of the invention, Figure l is a sectional view of a shaft also showing devices for measuring the thrust on the shaft; Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification arranged for measuring the pull on a shaft; Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view of another modification; Fig. 4 isa section on the line 4-4of Fig. 1 ;y Fig. 5 is a partial development of the cylindrical section at the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a similar development of a cylindrical section at the linel 6 6 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 7 is a partial section on the line 7-7 of Fig.

Referring to Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the portion 8 of the shaft carries a substantially rigid disk 9 and the portion 10 of said shaft carries a similar disk 11. A rim 12 is secured to the disk 11 by the bolts 13.v The disk 9 is in sliding engagement with the inside of the rim. In the position of ,the parts shown in Fig. 1, there is a clearance at 14 between the disk 9 and the annular projection 15 on the rim 12 that permits a relative axial movement of the two portions of the shaft. The opposed faces of the disks 9 and 11 are provided with lugs or projections 16 and `17',

the lugs on one disk extending into the spaces between the lugs on the other. Rotary motionis transmitted from one set. of lugs to the other by a series of coupling members 18, there being knife-edge or pivotal bearings between the .members and the lugs which permit practically frictionless movement of the portions of the shaft relative to v each other without affecting the transmission of rotary `motion Ifrom one por# tion to theother. A chamber 19 is formed between the disks 9 and A11 and the rim 12.

Fluid under pressure can be supplied` to the chamber through the conduit or passage 20 formed in lthe shaft. i fluid from the annular chamber 21 in av relatively fixed member 22 in which the shaft 8 rotates, the chamber '21 in turn. being -sup'- plied with fluidunder pressure from asu-itable source, such as a pump, through the conduit 23. A pressure gage 24 is connected to the conduit 23. Leakagefrom thechamber between the disk 9 and4 rim 12 is` prevented by suitable -packino 25. The move- This conduit receives ment -of the shafts 8 and -10 toward each other is limited by stops. The'frames l.26

that'position and support the coupling members 18 can be made to serve as, stops, o-r special stops may be. provided, or in some cases the lugs 16 and 17 can be employed as stops. The position of the disks 9 and 11 relativel to each other is indicated by means of the levers 27 and 28 mounted on suitable fixed supports adjacent to the shaft, which levers have their lower ends in contact with the disks 9 and 11 respectively. K

In Fig. 2, the rim 29 corresponding to rim 12 of Fig. 1 is carried b al spider 30 having a hub 31 securedto t e end of the shaft 10. An annular ring 32 is fastened to the rim 29 by the bolts| 33. The lugs corre-- sponding to the lugs 517 are carried by thering 32 while the coperatin lugs are formed on the leftface of the isk 34 carried by the shaftl 8. The chamber for the pressure fluid -is formed between the outer portion of the disk 34 and the ring 32, packing 35 being provided to prevent leakage from the chamber. The arrangement of the indicatin levers is changed somewhat from that of ig. 1 to suit t-he differences in the structure of the other parts.

In Figs. 3, 6 and 7, the disk 36 is carried by one portion of theshaft. A rim37 is secured to the disk by bolts and has a ring 38 attached to its outer portion by means of the bolts 39.. The shaft 8 carries a disk 440 provided with lugs 41, 42 that coperate with the'. lu s 43 on the ring 38and the lugs 44 on the disk 36 respectively. Rotar'y'motion is transmitted fromonel set of lugs to the other by the anti-friction rollers 45 or the balls 46 which also permit axial move- 1-10 f such relative position by the stops that the pressure chamber has its minimum volume or capacity and the thrust or pull is transmitted from ,one shaft to the other by said stops. To measure the thrust ofthe shaft '8 fluid under pressure is forced into the chamber 19, Fig. 1, to balance said thrust until the shafts are moved to their neutral or central position, that is, the position in their unloaded condition, as indicated by the levers 27 and 28. The pressure necessary to produce this result will be indicated by the gage 24 which can be so graduated and calibrated as to show the thrust. In a similar manner the pull of the shaft 8 can be measured by the apparatus shownin Fig. 2, While with the apparat-us of Fig. 3, the axial thrust can be measured by forcing pressure fluid into the chamber 48 and the'pull can be determined by forcing the fluid into the chamber 47. When making the measurements care must be taken to have the coupling members 18 in a plane at right angles to the axis of the shaft when the shafts are in their central position, since with an oblique position of said members they influence, by a component Yof the torque, the amount of axial force to be measured andv would, therefore, introduce an error into the measurements. this precaution unnecessary. Of course, the axial thrust and pull of a shaft may also be measured if the devices of Figs. 1 and 2 are both incorporated in a shaft.

From the foregoing it will be seen thatthe fluid vpressure lnecessarl to measure the thrust or pull has to` e made but little :greater .than said thrust or pull since it has only the small additionalfrictional resistance of the `limited movement of one portion of the shaft on the other to overcome. Hence the work done in making the measurements is reduced to a minimum.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have'described the princi- 'i` @ple of operation of my invention, together withthe apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I'desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means. What I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent of the United States,'is,-

' 1. In apparatus of the cla-ss described, the combination of two shafts arran ed in substantially axialv alinement and aving the end of one adjacent to the end of the other,

The rollers and balls of Fig. 3 make A a member carried by the end of one shaft, a member carried by the end of the other shaft and in. sliding engagement with the lirst member, there being a pressure chamber between said members to which fluid under pressure can be supplied, and means for transmitting rotary motion from one member to the other without interfering with the relative axial movement of the members.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of two shafts arranged in suhstantially axial alinement to rotate together and having the end of one adjacent to the end of the other, a member carried by the end of one shaft and having an annular rim, a member carried by the end "of the other shaft and in sliding engagement with said annular rim, there being a pressure chamber between said members,'means for supplying fluid under pressure to the chamber, a pressure indicating device, and means for indicating the position of the members relative to each other.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of two shafts arranged in substantially axial alinement and having the end of one adjacent to the end of the other, a member carried by the end of one shaft vand having an annular portion, a disk-like member carried by the end of the other shaft and in sliding engagement with said portion, there` being a chamber between the members to which fluid under pressure can be supplied, and means for transmitting rotary motion from one member to the other without interfering withthe relative axial movement of the members:

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of two shafts arranged in substantially axial alinement'and having the end of one adjacent to the end of the other, a member carried by the end of one shaft and provided with an annular rim, a disklike member carried by the end of the other shaft and in sliding enga ement with said rim, there being a cham er between the members, a conduit in one of the shafts for supplying fluid under pressure to the chamber, and anti-friction means for transmitting rotary motion from one member to the other while permitting relative axial movement of the members.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of two shafts arranved in substantially axial alinement and having the end of one adjacent to the end of the other, a disk-like member carried by the end of one shaft that has an annular rim, a disklike member carried by the end of the other shaft and in slidin engagement Withsaid rim, and means or transmitting rotary motion from one member to the other while permitting relative axial movement of thel members, said means including lugs on one member that are arranged in alternating relation to cooperating lugs on the other member.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of two shafts arranged in substantially axial alinement and having the end of one adjacent to the end of the other, a disk-like member carried by the end of one shaftand having an annular rim, a disklike member carried by the end of thev other shaft and in sliding engagement with said rim, means for transmitting rotary motion from one member to the other'while permitting relative axial movement of the'members, said means including lugs that are arranged in alternating relation to coperating lugs on the other member, and antifriction devices between the opposed faces of said lugs.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of two shafts arranged in substantially axial alinement and having the end of one shaft adjacent to the end of 'the other, a disk-like member carried by the end of one shaft and having anannular rim, a disk-like member carried by the end of the other shaft andl in sliding engagement with said rim, means for transmitting rotary motion from .one member to the other while permvittingrelative axial movement ofthe members, 'said means including lugs on one member that are arranged in interlapping lrelation to cooperating lugs on the other member, and anti-,friction devices in rolling contact with the opposed faces of the lugs.

A 8. In apparatus of the class described, the combinationof two shafts arran ed in Substantially axial alinement and aving the end of one shaft adjacent to the end of the other, a disk-like member carried by the Y end of one shaft, an annular rim secured to said member, a disk-like member carried by the end of thev other shaft and in slidingcombination of two shafts arranged in substantially axial alinement and havingY the end of one adjacent to the end of the other, a disk-like member carried by the end of one shaft, an annular rim secured to said `member, a disk-like member carried by the end.

of the other shaftand in sliding engagement with the interior of said rim, there being chambers formed on opposite sides on the second member between it and the first member and its rim, conduit means in one of the shafts for supplying fluid under pressure to the chambers, and anti-friction means for transmitting rotary motion from one member to the vother while permitting relative axial movement of said-members.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of two shafts arranged in substantially axiall alinement, a disk on the end of one shaft having an annular rim, a disk on the other shaft that isv in lateral sliding engagement with thepinterior of said rim, there being a chamberv between the two disks, and' anti-friction -means for transmitting rotary motion from one disk to the other and permitting relative axialmovement thereof.

In witness whereof, I have hereuntoset my hand this 27th day of May, 1911.

PAUL WAGNER.

Witnesses :v y

GUsT. HULBRooK, OSCAR EBERTH. 

